Ernest Adolphus Finney, Jr.

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Date: 2021
Publisher: Gale
Document Type: Brief biography
Length: 334 words
Content Level: (Level 3)
Lexile Measure: 920L

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About this Person
Born: March 23, 1931 in Smithfield, Virginia, United States
Died: December 03, 2017 in Columbia, South Carolina, United States
Nationality: American
Occupation: Chief justice
Other Names: Finney, Ernest Adolphus, Jr.
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PERSONAL INFORMATION

Family: Son of Ernest A Sr and Collen Godwin (deceased); Married Frances Davenport, August 20, 1955; Children: Ernest III, Lynn, Nikky & Jerry Education: Claflin Col, BA, 1952; SC State Col's Sch Law, JD, 1954. Memberships: Chmn bd, Buena Vista Develop Corp; Am Bar Asn; SC Bar Asn; Nat Bar Asn; Sumter County Bar Ass; Am Judicature Soc; Nat Asn Advan Colored People; Alpha Phi Alpha; United Methodist Church Gen Coun Fin & Admin Legal Responsibilities Comn; chmn & bd trustee, Claflin Col; adv comt, Univ SC Sch Law; founder, Legis Black Caucus.

CAREER

Judge (retired), Attorney; SC Sumter County Courthouse 3rd Judicial Circuit SC, resident judge, 1976-85; SC Supreme Ct, assoc justice, 1985-94, chief justice, 1994-2000; SC State Univ, interim pres, 2002-03; Finney Law Firm Inc, atty, coun.

AWARDS

Distinguished Service, City Sumter, 1970; SC Coun Human Rights, 1972; Alumnus Award, SC State Col, 1973; Civil Libertarian of the Year, ACLU, 1973; Citizen of the Year, Omega Psi Phi, 1973; Bedford-Stuyvesant New York Jaycee Award, 1974; Politic & Alumni Award, Claflin Col, 1974; James M Dabbs Award, SC Council Human Rights, 1974; Selected to rep SC at Am Bar Asn Criminal Code Revision Conf, San Diego, 1975; Wateree Comn Action Inc Serv, 1975; SC Nat Asn Advan Colored People Native Son, 1976; Delta Sigma Leadership Serv, 1976; Service of Mankind Award, Emmanuel Meth Church, 1977; HHD, Claflin Col, 1977; Nat Asn Equal Oppt Higher Educ, 1986; Award of Achievement, Alpha Phi Alpha, 1986; Honoree, SC Trial Lawyers Association, 1993; SC Order of the Palmetto, 1994; LLD, Citadel, 1995; LLD, Johnson C Smith Univ, 1995; LLD, Morris College, 1996; DHL, SC State Univ, 1996; National Black College Hall of Fame, 1998; DHL, Col Charleston; Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award, Claflin Col, SC State Col; Honorary Degree: Claflin Univ, Johnson C Smith Univ, Morris Col, Col Charleston, Wofford Col, Francis Marion Univ, Univ SC.

Achievements:

First African-American Supreme Court Justice appointed to the South Carolina Supreme Court; First African-American to serve on the House Judiciary Committee.

Source Citation

Source Citation   

Gale Document Number: GALE|K1645527425